Definition

1. Noun:

   • Something of little value or importance: A trifle is a small, insignificant object, matter, or amount of money.
   • A small amount: A trifle can also refer to a small quantity or degree of something.
   • A dessert: A trifle is a cold British dessert consisting of layers of sponge cake, fruit, jelly, custard, and cream.

2. Verb:

   • To treat without seriousness or respect: To trifle means to act or speak in a frivolous, unserious, or disrespectful way about something important.
   • To waste or fritter away: To trifle means to spend or use something valuable, like time or money, in a wasteful or inefficient manner.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • Don't worry about such a trifle; it's not important. (Referring to a minor issue.)
  • I'll have just a trifle of milk in my tea, please. (Referring to a small amount.)
  • For dessert, she made a delicious sherry trifle. (Referring to the dessert.)

• Verb:

  • He is not a man to trifle with; he demands respect. (To treat someone/something without due seriousness.)
  • She trifled with the idea of quitting her job but never did. (To consider something not very seriously.)
  • He trifled away his entire inheritance on foolish ventures. (To waste something.)

Advanced Usage

• "A trifle" (as an adverb): Slightly, a little.

  • The music was a trifle too loud for my taste. (The music was slightly too loud.)

• "To trifle with someone's affections": To treat someone's romantic feelings in a casual, insincere, or hurtful way.

  • It's cruel to trifle with someone's affections just for amusement.

Variants and Related Words

• Trifling (adjective): Unimportant, trivial, or of little value.
  • We spent hours arguing over a trifling matter.
• Trifler (noun): A person who acts frivolously or does not take things seriously.

Synonyms

• Noun (for something unimportant): Triviality, bagatelle, nothing.
• Verb (to treat frivolously): Toy, dally, flirt (with an idea).
• Verb (to waste): Squander, fritter away, idle away.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Trifle away: To waste something, especially time or money, on unimportant things.
  • He trifled away the afternoon browsing the internet instead of working.

Related Idioms

• "Not a trifle": Not a small or insignificant matter.
  • Losing the contract was not a trifle; it was a major blow to the company.
• "A mere trifle": Something completely insignificant or a very small amount.
  • The cost of repairs was a mere trifle compared to the value of the car.

Noun

1. something of small importance
2. a detail that is considered insignificant
3. a cold pudding made of layers of sponge cake spread with fruit or jelly; may be decorated with nuts, cream, or chocolate

Verb

1. consider not very seriously
   • He is trifling with her
   • She plays with the thought of moving to Tasmania
2. act frivolously
3. waste time; spend one's time idly or inefficiently